A few lovely blogs have me thinking about The Compact--an effort of anticonsumerism toward simplicity and self-sufficiency.

"The Compact has several aims (more or less prioritized below):

To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc. -- a step that, we hope, inherits the revolutionary impulse of the Mayflower Compact.
To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er).
To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact) " from the Yahoo! Group.

I was wondering if any of the mommies here would like to take parte in a Compact thread.

I blog traditional foods and Weston A Price at Nourished Kitchen. See my healthy recipes.

Man, I am so not there No, I'm trying but just the idea makes me feel uncomfortable. I think it's a great idea though! I'm going to sub for inspiration Maybe I'll get through a month

I try to get a lot of my stuff used. Most of the kids clothing comes from consignment (and then goes back there!) and I get a lot of stuff off freecycle (including clothing for me and the dh). Just the idea of ALL . . . . wow! (I'm assuming they don't mean food? but still!).

Shannon, food is obviously okay, as are safety items and underwear. Other items should be acquired second hand. Of course, everyone makes their own rules/concessions and there really are no Compacting police. For myself, I will allow the purchase of new fiber for knitting (only as I start the project though -- no need to create a stash) and I also wrote in a clause to purchase my friend's new cookbook that will soon be published.

Oh, Thank You! It's off-season right now so I have a little extra time on my hands while at the office. Shhh!

I have a few exemptions on my lists like allowing myself to purchase a charity cookbook I spent tons of time editing, and allowing myself to buy new craft supplies if 1) they're for a specific project and 2) I can't find them used.

I'm looking forward to the challenge.

I blog traditional foods and Weston A Price at Nourished Kitchen. See my healthy recipes.

I am really wanting to start this. Ever since I read about the original group...maybe a year ago, it's intrigued me. I think part of it is that I'm always up for a good challenge but I need something structured to give me the kick in the butt I need. I've been really bad about shopping for NEW stuff lately. And once you start on a spending track/mindset, it's so hard to get out of.

So, my plan is to start next week. I have to pump myself up but I'm definitely ready! I hope more mamas will join us...I love having a group to converse with about things like this.

When you join the Compact, you don't buy ANYTHING new (except the few health, safety, and food items that you need). So basically NO shopping at any stores except thrift, Goodwill, garage sales, and online used stores (eBay, etc).

I'm not really seeing any difference between 'compacting' and 'living simply' or being 'minimalist'. Is it just another version of that or is there something differentiating about it?

When one lives simply or minimally, they can still buy new things. With the Compact, one commits not to buy anything new outside of the realm of food, health care, and underwear for a year. They're similar, but Compacting is more of a constructed project...an experiment in consumption with very defined rules.

Wow. That's intense. I mean, in some ways I've already been on board with this concept for over a decade. I buy whatever I can buy used or trade/pass on/etc., but my definition of 'can' seems like it may be different from compacting. For example, I feel the need to buy things like underwear, socks, and shoes new. That said, I meet my values head on in the process by buying higher quality stuff and aim for supporting local/natural resources.

That said - my children have worn almost 100% used clothing their entire lives (and I have an almost 12 y/o). Also, almost every furniture item in my house was given to me from someone else who owned it before me. I also refuse to buy anything new for my kitchen as that is my favorite area of the thrift stores - there's always TOO MUCH on the shelves in the kitchen departments, there! I love finding all my glass dishes for a quarter a piece.

I'm gonna sit with this idea for a while and see if I can find other areas in which it could work for me in a more immediate sense.

I really like pondering the concept of *doing without*. I find that if I just sit with myself and breathe through the anxiety that comes from wanting/needing something new instead of impulsively responding to that feeling - I can flow right through it. After the feeling passes, I find that it IS possible to live very peacefully without the item I thought I needed. And then I find such peace in knowing I've kept yet another item from contributing to all the global clutter/waste as well as my own household clutter, which is important b/c space in my home is at a high premium. My house is tiny and we HS.

I like the idea of this, but just thinking what to do for christmas gifts?

I'm still struggling with this one. I'm not worried about our families because both sides are so low-key about gift giving. It's my kids...my daughter is almost one, so she won't really know, but her four year old brother, well, he's used to Santa! We haven't gone wild in years' past, but he usually gets a few new things (last Christmas it was some cars and a Radio Flyer scooter, so I feel like I need to match that, you know?). I might try to find some gently used stuff on Ebay. Ideas are welcome!

i'm definitely interested in jumping in on this, but i'll need to sit dh down and have a serious talk. he's big into buying new dvd's and video games right when they're released, so i think that will be the hardest thing for him. we'll also need to work on being more eco-friendly (a good thing anyway) with some of the stuff we have been bad about up to now. i'd love to do this though.... just not sure i can get the "fam" on board.

I'm still struggling with this one. I'm not worried about our families because both sides are so low-key about gift giving. It's my kids...my daughter is almost one, so she won't really know, but her four year old brother, well, he's used to Santa! We haven't gone wild in years' past, but he usually gets a few new things (last Christmas it was some cars and a Radio Flyer scooter, so I feel like I need to match that, you know?). I might try to find some gently used stuff on Ebay. Ideas are welcome!

we buy a lot of dd's christmas gifts at good will. they are just as good, and seriously a FRACTION of the cost. one year we got her a child-sized play kitchen in REALLY good condition, WITH batteries that lit up the "burners" with flashing lights. It was awesome, and it cost us $1.50! There are usually some really cute clothes at good will also, and a huge stack of children's books, and lots of fun goodies. We've gotten huge bean bag chairs, fluffy teddy bears, keyboards, and tons of other goodies. they've never complained about it not being new in a package, because it was always *new* to them!

It's my kids...my daughter is almost one, so she won't really know, but her four year old brother, well, he's used to Santa!

Sometimes I think we don't give kids enough credit. Is it possible that you could sit down with him and try to explain what you're doing and why? You might be surprised! I think used Christmas gifts would be awesome! My friend is trying to encourage everyone to do this for her kids...and even though she is getting some resistance, she's educating in the process. Plus, starting a tradition like that so early in his life would be hugely beneficial and would set the tone for the years to come.

What you're saying reminds me of how I feel sometimes when I'm at the store with Bella, and she wants something. I start to feel like if I don't get it for her...her little world might end! Then I snap out of it, and we don't buy it. And she has totally forgotten by the time we're out of the store. I know that works better with toddlers, but I'm just trying to show you how YOUR emotions about it all may be bigger than his emotions?

Quote:

Originally Posted by memory maker

I like the idea of this, but just thinking what to do for christmas gifts?

we buy a lot of dd's christmas gifts at good will. they are just as good, and seriously a FRACTION of the cost. one year we got her a child-sized play kitchen in REALLY good condition, WITH batteries that lit up the "burners" with flashing lights. It was awesome, and it cost us $1.50!

i'm definitely interested in jumping in on this, but i'll need to sit dh down and have a serious talk. he's big into buying new dvd's and video games right when they're released, so i think that will be the hardest thing for him. we'll also need to work on being more eco-friendly (a good thing anyway) with some of the stuff we have been bad about up to now. i'd love to do this though.... just not sure i can get the "fam" on board.

You know, my DH isn't doing it, nor is my friend's husband, but both of our spouses are pretty frugal to start with...not spenders or shoppers. I'm trying not to use my spouse's "purchasing power" to thwart my efforts though (thinking about the kids and Christmas here).

Sometimes I think we don't give kids enough credit. Is it possible that you could sit down with him and try to explain what you're doing and why? You might be surprised! I think used Christmas gifts would be awesome! My friend is trying to encourage everyone to do this for her kids...and even though she is getting some resistance, she's educating in the process. Plus, starting a tradition like that so early in his life would be hugely beneficial and would set the tone for the years to come.

I could, but he's got this notion that Santa brings "new" stuff. Or at least I think he does. : I don't want him to think that's what the holidays are about, at all, but I also don't want to crush Santa for him at the tender age of four by bypassing the gift part altogether (or giving him homemade gifts, which would be a dead giveaway that Santa is mom and dad). I think my only solution is going to be finding a few good used gifts.

I wish Christmas and Santa weren't wrapped up in stuff. I'm going to have to think about this long and hard -- how to make the holidays special, meaningful, and magical for my kids without stuff.

I could, but he's got this notion that Santa brings "new" stuff. Or at least I think he does. : I don't want him to think that's what the holidays are about, at all, but I also don't want to crush Santa for him at the tender age of four by bypassing the gift part altogether (or giving him homemade gifts, which would be a dead giveaway that Santa is mom and dad). I think my only solution is going to be finding a few good used gifts.

I wish Christmas and Santa weren't wrapped up in stuff. I'm going to have to think about this long and hard -- how to make the holidays special, meaningful, and magical for my kids without stuff.

You may want to check out the book "Living Simply With Children" by Marie Sherlock. There is a great section about holidays/celebrations that I think you would enjoy.

Would it be possible for you to use gifts from grandpa/grandma for your "Santa" gifts? Does that go against the Compact? Accepting things that are new?

My mom used to give each person a "garage sale gift" (in addition to new gifts)- something she had picked up second hand and wrapped in plain brown paper. I have to say, the garage sale gift was often my favorite! It was always really appropriate for the person, and I appreciated the effort to hunt down something like that, rather than just going to any old store and buying something.

Also, I was in Goodwill yesterday looking for Halloween costume components, and ran across a game DS wants, still in the shrinkwrap! So you might be able to find something that's both new and second-hand.

You may want to check out the book "Living Simply With Children" by Marie Sherlock. There is a great section about holidays/celebrations that I think you would enjoy.

Would it be possible for you to use gifts from grandpa/grandma for your "Santa" gifts? Does that go against the Compact? Accepting things that are new?

I read that book years ago...before kids. LOL! I need to pick it up again. I remember thinking it was really well done.

I thought about this. I might do that, if only to cut back on the amount of stuff he gets.

I'm already dreading the gift part of the holidays if only because I'm making so much decluttering progress and I know my efforts to are going to be, uh, challenged. Thank goodness our families are pretty low-key on the gift front.

We've often given away new items to thrifts stores run by charities because it was a non-approved toy given by relatives. I bet you could find a new toy at a second-hand shop which I think is okay by compact rules because you're still not feeding the beast.

I'm making most of the gifts this year--at least for the kids. I'm making DS a teddy bear out of a fulled wool sweater, and my younger cousins will be getting small crazy quilts. I'm stumped on what to do for the adults, though.

What about buying new fabric or yarn to make things? Technically, buying such "raw" goods doesn't fall under the category of a consumer purchase (according to the wee bit I've read about consumerism). Just curious...

Wow, I'm so excited about this I'm getting a little bit of a head rush Thanks Delight, for leading me over here!

I was going to ask about the secondhand "new" things. My Goodwill always has things that are still in the package, and I buy things on eBay sometimes that are NIP. Does that count under the compact, or do the things have to actually be gently used?

I'm seriously considering this. We just got over massive and sudden consideration of a new house purchase (we decided not to), and in the two weeks that we were considering, I thought about these issues long and hard and was already coming toward this kind of a decision. I love the idea of truly committing to it. I even have an IRL friend who would probably do it with me!